F1: Ferrari host fan day ahead of penultimate race in Brazil

Ferrari fans join drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen at the open day in TuscanyIBTimes UK

Ahead of this weekend's penultimate Formula One race of the season at Brazil's Interlagos track, Ferrari hosted a fan open day at their Mugello circuit in Tuscany. Drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen greeted their fans, who turned up in large numbers to see their heroes. The drivers raced around the circuit in both Formula One cars, and older, vintage Ferraris. Some fans were even lucky enough to be driven around by this year's line-up.

Ferrari will finish second in the constructors' championship this year, but are almost 250 points behind the dominant Mercedes team. Sebastian Vettel is currently third behind drivers' championship winner Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, both of whom drive for Mercedes. Vettel said he hopes the team can finish on a high, first in Brazil and then at the season finalé in Abu Dhabi.

"Well, we will try to give everything we have [at the Brazilian Grand Prix]. It is always a bit difficult to predict but, as I said, maximum attack," said the German driver during the fan day.

Ferrari may not have had an F1 champion since Raikkonen sealed the championship in Brazil in 2007, but they have arguably the biggest fanbase in the sport and both drivers said they had been blown-away by the turnout.

"It is incredible," said four-times champion Vettel. "I think it is difficult to find the right words. I didn't really know what to expect but this is a lot more than anyone could expect. So many people coming to simply celebrate their love for Ferrari, I think it is very special to just be part of that."

"It is nice to be driving around, that is what we love and obviously when the people are so happy and the weather is so good, it is great for all of us," added Raikkonen.

Vettel, then racing for Red Bull, and Raikkonen at Ferrari both finished outside the top four at last year's Brazilian Grand Prix but both will be hoping for more success this time around as they look to chip away at Mercedes' dominance in the sport.